FIGHT NIGHT AT THE TANK AT HP PAVILION
American Metal & Iron Brings Excitement!

Professional boxing returns to the Bay Area and promises new and more explosive bouts than ever — 2009 American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank brings back thrilling fights, loads of excitement and, of course, hard-hitting professional boxing matches with a few new twists.

American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank brings another season of hard-hitting boxing to the Bay Area. Photo: Rocky Widner.

This is the eighth consecutive year that American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank has been held at HP Pavilion, but this year promises new elements that will enhance the fan experience. The event will consist of seven four-round bouts, with all fighters included in "You Be the Judge." This is a great way for fans to show their support of their favorite fighter of the night. The crowd will get to judge the bouts and choose their favorite boxer by round of applause. The winning fighter will receive the AM&I Cup with an extra $1,000 bonus. Also, there will be a North vs. South theme, with fighters from Northern California battling fighters from Southern California.

This season will bring back a familiar face as Roy Englebrecht returns to AM&I Fight Night at the Tank as the event matchmaker. Englebrecht is owner and founder of Roy Englebrecht Promotions, California's third largest boxing promotions company. In December of 2001 Oscar De La Hoya purchased Englebrecht Promotions, creating Golden Boy Promotions, with Roy serving as COO for the first three years. At the end of 2004, Englebrecht Promotions was re-established, with De La Hoya as a minority partner.

Fight Night at the Tank was last held on Nov. 20. Headlining the event was current WBO Asia Pacific Lightweight Champion and former WBC Continental Champion Bobby Pacquiao (29-15-3, 14 KOs) from General Santos City, Philippines, who is also younger brother to WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao. Included on the evening's fight card as semi-main event was Bay Area native Karim Mayfield (8-0-1, 5 KOs) along with crowd favorite and previous "You Be the Judge" winner Jason "JP" Peterson (2-2, 1 KO).

Other fighters who have fought at Fight Night at the Tank include former WBA and WBC light heavyweight champion Montell Griffin (49-8, 30 KOs), light welterweight and former Playboy model Mia "The Knockout" St. John (45-9-2, 18 KOs) and Eric "Butterbean" Esch (77-7-4, 58 KOs).

American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank and Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment's top priority in 2009 is to bring fans the most exciting boxing matches in the Bay Area. Fans that choose to buy full season-ticket packages are given special benefits to enhance their boxing experience.

There are many great advantages to being an exclusive season-ticket holder, but the best incentive to join is the VIP Ring Insights. This is a special 30-minute session during each event, giving season-ticket holders the opportunity to meet the fighters, ask questions, take pictures and get autographs from some of the biggest names and faces in the boxing world. Thus far, guests at the VIP Ring Insights have included De La Hoya, Leonard, St. John, Esch, "Sugar" Shane Mosley, former heavyweight champion of the world Ken Norton Sr., Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, Bert Sugar, Al Bernstein, Freddie Roach and Pernell Whitaker.

Individual tickets can be purchased at the HP Pavilion ticket office, at Ticketmaster ticket centers throughout the Bay Area, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. For more information about season tickets or group discounts, call (408) 999-6808 or go to www.fightnightatthetank.com.